Description

In the next four weeks we will delve into expressionistic painting using a pastel technique.

We will take a peek at the history of traditional media pastels, some differences in the different types of pastels and how the ground, substrate, or paper will make a big difference in the look of your images. We will have the opportunity to paint three images using a pastel technique.

Skill Level

This class is a beginner to intermediate skill level class. For best results the student must be familiar with the Corel Painter user interface, be able to import an image into Photoshop and Corel Painter, select brushes, and save files.

Software Requirements

The software required for this class is Corel Painter 9 or newer, and either Photoshop CS2 or newer or PS Elements 7 or newer.

Hardware Requirements

Your computer that will work with your version of PS and Corel Painter.

Week four we will be printing out an image and laying down some traditional media pastels as an embellishment. You will need your own printer and a few sheets of water color paper to print out on. If you don’t have a printer that can do that you can use a local  printer to help you out.

If neither of those are available you can use our partner and sponsor for speaking tours, Allied Photo at http://www.alliedphoto.com/ or call them at 616-452-3941/800-368-6113

Other Requirements

As mentioned we will apply some traditional media pastels to a printed image in week four.  There will be an alternative assignment for those that do not want to go through with that project. If you do want to participate, you will need some pastels. Go to your local art/craft store and purchase some pastel pencils. Below is the complete list of supplies for the class IF you want to embellish a print.

• 1-2 sheets of water color paper that will go through your printer (or a lab/studio in town to print for you)

• 2-Spray fixative to seal your image after printing and before applying pastels

• 3-Pastels of some sort to use for your embellishment

Course Gallery

Before Class

There are a few things that will help you get a jump on this class. In the fourth week we will print one of the images from the first three weeks and embellish it with pastels. You will want to have on hand a few sheets of water color paper for your printer or find someone locally to print an image for you if you want to participate in that portion of the assignment. The other thing is that you will want some pastels to embellish with. If you are new to pastels I would suggest pencil pastels or soft chalk pastels. Purchase them at your local art supply store or a big box hobby store like Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Pastels are expensive. There is no requirement that you have to buy these for the class. There is an alternative assignment. Invest in the material if you desire to pursue pastels further.

To save you time here are a few online sources:

You can get a starter set of soft pastels or pencils at Dick Blicks or Cheap Joes for roughly $50.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/sennelier-soft-pastel-sets/

http://www.dickblick.com/products/stabilo-carbothello-pastel-pencil-sets/

http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supplies/4598_pastel-supplies.asp

http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supply/132230_5247_sennelier-soft-pastel-set-assorted-half-stick-colors.asp

The other thing needed is a fixative.  Sealing your paper will allow you to use your pastels on the print without rubbing off the emulsion. Here are some easy rattle can spray fixatives NOTE: DO NOT USE THESE SPRAY FIXATIVES IN AN ENCLOSED AREA.

The other thing to keep in mind about embellishment is that a lot of testing  needs to take place for your particular printer/ink/paper combination. Your setup will differ from mine. My recommendation is test, test, test. I have ruined many prints because the combination I was tying to use would not work. I have used Breathing color, and Golden Artist Colors  Varnishes as well as premier art sprays with good success but please don’t expect to have great results on the first try with your paper printer combo. It could happen but most likely will not.

http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supply/3044913_5286_winsor-newton-artists-workable-fixative-spray.asp

This is an article written by my friend Michael Townsend. Mike is a super-tech from Golden Artist Colors. It tells you a bit about the importance of sealing images from a ink jet printer.

http://www.goldenpaints.com/justpaint/jp14article3.php

Week One

Brush Research

Watch the brush research video or read the Brush Research PDF.

Start by experimenting and see how each type of brush specific to pastels reacts to your stroke and how you can make various changes in the brushes.

Watch the Pastel technique video to get an idea of one method of creating a pastel emulation.

The first assignment is to create a loose piece based on a photo of a sphere, the file to use is located in the resource area  for week one. There are no rules, you can do anything you want with the image. The emphasis will be on using the brushes from your research to emulate a pastel drawing.

As points of interest there are a few other documents that are released in week one. A PDF file on the history of Pastels, A PDF document with various books on traditional media pastels and a PDF document with other pastel resources.

Week Two

Paper Color and Texture

Watch the Video or read the document on paper color and texture.

Experiment with paper texture combinations. Come up with three version that you like.

Use one of  these combinations to create your second pastel image of an overall landscape scene with a horse and rider. The image can be found in the Week two resource area.

Share your work.

Week Three

Read the PDF file on the differences in traditional pastel media.

Create your next digital pastel painting using the dancer reference image located in the Week Three resource area.

Week Four

Embellishment of Your Digital Pastel Image

Read the PDF file on embellishment.

Read the Pastel accessory document.

Read the document Common Pastel Mistakes.

Print out or have printed one of your images from the first three weeks and use your pastels to create a unique original mixed media piece.

If you don’t want to embellish one of your images then create a fourth digital pastel using one of your files or the file provided in the Week Four resource area.

Possibly Related Courses

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• Portrait Painting #2

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Description

This class is a continuation of Diana’s Portrait Painting – Part I class. It is designed to help the student go beyond the techniques taught in Portrait Painting – Part I. Learn how to really put life and character into your portraits by painting skin with texture! Also involved will be learning how to paint peoples “laugh lines”! : Yes, we will deal with painting wrinkles! Learn how to paint youthful portraits, making babies and children look more painterly by enhancing details that make them who they are in a painterly way.

Diana will show you exciting techniques for converting your painting that you painted in her Portrait One class, or a finished portrait that you already have, into a Charcoal painting! “Wow” your clients and friends with this very popular style of Black and White or Sepia toned paintings!

This class will cover texturizing paintings, adding new and different backgrounds with the use of Photoshop and Painter to create a masterpiece of your imagination! Place your subject in a background that is unique to them as a person, or create a fantasy background that will come to life with different textures, special papers, and special techniques to take your portrait paintings above and beyond my first class in Portrait Painting – Part I.
Diana will also teach you how to enhance your portraits with basic embellishments! Take your painting to the highest level of finishing by adding even more depth and texture with this process! By applying just a few products you will have a painting that resembles the look and feel of a traditional work of art.

Skill Level

Intermediate

Software Requirements

• ® Corel Painter 9.5 or higher
• ® Photoshop 7 or higher

Hardware Requirements

• A computer capable of running ®Corel Painter and ®Adobe Photoshop
• A Pen tablet is highly recommended.

Course Gallery

[View with PicLens]

 

Before Class

Prerequisites: Although not a must, it is highly recommended that you take “Portrait Painting – Part I with Diana Dillion” BEFORE this class – OR, if you already have portrait painting skills we invite you to learn a continuation of exciting and different ways you can enhance, improve, and take your paintings to the next level. Students must also have a good basic knowledge of Painter and Photoshop, like how to open and save files, how to choose brushes, etc.

Week One

Getting Started

• Backgrounds – Using other pictures and textures to enhance backgrounds.
• Put your subject on a background that brings out their personality!

Week Two

Painting skin

• Painting skin with texture emphasis on wrinkles and older people’s skin.
• How to make babies smooth skin look more painterly

Week Three

Learning about light

• A continuation of painting skin with texture. You will learn how different papers can be utilized to add texture to skin.
• Painting men’s “five o’clock shadows” and freckles.
• Learn how to create your own direction of light to add depth on photos taken with an on-camera flash.

Week Four

Embellishment and charcoal exercise

• Make your painting come alive with embellishments.
• Converting your painting into a Charcoal painting.

Possibly Related Courses

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• Corel Painter and the Amateur Photographer
• Creative Collage: Scrap Techniques with Corel Painter
• Introduction To Color Theory
• Introduction to Digital Pastels
• From Traditional to Digital-Painting Fundamentals

Other Courses by Diana

• Corel Painter and the Amateur Photographer